Costa Del Mar Sunglass Lens Comparison

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What is the one thing, day in and day out that is most important to me for comfort, performance, and safety?  What product can’t I live without everyday that I’m on the water, driving my car, and working around the house?  Thinking about it, it has to be my Costa Del Mar Sunglasses.  I almost live in my Costa’s wearing sunglasses honestly 365 days a year anytime I’m outside, sometimes 16 hours per day. I can remember when I made the change 5 years ago and noticed the difference right away.  The lens quality of the 580 Glass  and Plastic is second to none.  Check out Costa’s Lens options.  How light the frames are, and the ease on my eyes to look through there glass lens, is what sold me.  Having recently just purchases my second pair of glasses from Costa I tried to do a len’s comparison with pictures below.

For the past 5 years I’ve been in a pair of copper lens.  Love em!  Perfect lens for Michigan water ways, driving, and outdoor activities.  But recently with all the June fishing I was doing, and as we I stayed out later and later, I was noticing I was not comfortable the last hour of day light. That peak hour of fishing as drakes and brown trout become most active.  I kept taking my glasses off, as the copper lens made me feel uncomfortable.  So now I own a pair of sunrise (yellow) lens on the same frames.  The perfect lens for low light and fog.  Having worn the sunrise now on a few trips, I love them too.  I can honestly wear them in the dark and feel comfortable and safe as we throw big size #4 hex spinners or foam bodied mouse patterns around.  I put them on the first or last hour of the day, my eyes do have to adjust from the copper to the sunrise (yellow), the transition is pretty quick. Actually did notice the other morning it took my eyes a little longer for my to adjust from sunrise to copper in the morning hours, put still pretty quick and painless.  Not an eye specialist and I’m sure something is going on, but just something I noticed.  Was not a big deal, but like I said just something I noticed.

Did my best with a camera behind the sunglasses to so you the difference with the same shot.

Copper Lens

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Sunrise

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No Lens

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Protect your Costa Glasses with ARC Glass Retainers

 

Rising Fish Tools

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IMG_2623A new company made it onto my radar just recently, that has some interesting tools for fishing.  Company is called Rising Fish (first a really cool logo) they focus on fishing tools,  (big nippa is a personal favorite), storage, and apparel.  Written right on their website is the company mission – “Improving the fishing experience is why we exist as a company. We excel at identifying annoying or frustrating aspects of fishing, and then designing products to ameliorate those issues”

Rising Fish is also American made and gives 1% back to the Planet.  From the Bob’s Tactical Curves to the Big Nippa, you can tell the quality and workmanship is there.  Great products for your fishing needs.

If your in the market for new tools check out there Dealer locator and order up.  I think you will be impressed. – Rising Fish Dealer Locator 

 

Smallmouth Release – Picture of the Day

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Get Costa Gear

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Here is a link for some free Costa Gear, just got sign up just follow the link.  15 give aways from now until 4th of July.

 

Man vs Boat continues

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Maybe I just like the challenge.  Why does it seem like I’m always fighting with my boat?  I wonder who will win in the end when it comes to Jon Ray vs. Clackacraft?

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Hello world!

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Spicy Crab and Smallmouth equals good fun

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Sunny Day, high pressure (from anglers and mother nature) try the spicy crab.  Featured pattern in the Big Appetite Smallmouth DVD.  The next 4 months are prime smallmouth time.  Crabs other wise none as crayfish are not the big fly, sexy to tie patterns you read about they flat out catch fish. Plenty of open smallmouth dates open starting in July, once I get through the Hex cycle. Give me a call or shoot me an email.  July – September great months to chase the bronze back before muskie and steelhead seasons.

Air Time, Mr. Smallmouth – Picture of the Day

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Mr. Smallmouth getting a little air time.  Trying to continue to work on my skills of timing, smallmouth are much easier than steelhead.

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3 – Tand Fly Reel – Very Impressed

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So if you know me you might find this post kind of funny.  But yes I was impressed by a fly reel here most recently.  While a lot of my teaching on how to go about fighting and handling fish here in Michigan does not require the reel.  I believe in stripping the fly line in and landing them.

But with my new arsenal of Scott Radian rods, I was finding out my old school reels where just too heavy and my balance was off.  As fly rods continue to get lighter and lighter my “coffee cans” needed an upgrade.  Now to my dilemma, with smallmouth bass season here my 907 Radian needed to be outfitted with my favorite bass line 7wt Titan Taper, but as you all know smallmouth do not require the reel for drag.  Strip them bronze back beauty’s in.  So I did not want to spend a lot of money, for a line holder.  Not going to be using a drag.  But balance is key, smallmouth require that you cast.  Longer casts on wider rivers, and banging shoreline on our reservoirs.  Don’t want a heavy setup for a long day of casting.

So my good friend and fellow endangered species hunter Russ Maddin, told me about a new company 3-tand reels.  He had just bought a few for his Scott Radians.  Well after picking up a TF 70 from TNA (The Northern Angler) for $209.  I am floored by the value that one gets with this reel.

The TF 70 is perfect for trout and smallmouth fishing.  There are a couple things that I look for in a reel.  1) How does it balance on the rod, 3-tands TF-70 is super light, well ported but still seems durable.  2) How does it spin, what do I mean by this.  Can I pick up line quickly by spinning the spool.  The answer is yes here, the reel is balanced almost like a center pin reel.  Spins like a champ.  3) Sounds funny but is it sexy.  Do I like how it looks.  While I see reels as men’s jewelry, I want my stuff to be looking good.  Answer again is yes.  4) If and when I need drag what am I working with? 3-tands and there TF-70 model?  Well the Patent Pending sealed NanoCF Drag system to begin with, what does that mean?  Smooth and Sealed basically and secondly for the money more drag than you will ever get anywhere else.

If you need a new reel check out 3-tand and contact Brian at the TNA he has them in stock.  Great reel and OMG great value.

Brook trout or a Great White?

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The aggressive nature of a brook trout reminds me of a Great White Shark sometimes, now the size and teeth on the other hand.  Just a different view of a brook trout coming to the boat on a soft hackle tied by John Ingham.  Thank you John.